Netherlands regulator presses tech firms over election disinformation
Major platforms face scrutiny in the Netherlands as regulators intensify efforts to counter systemic online risks ahead of the October election.
The Netherlands’ competition authority will meet with 12 major online platforms, including TikTok, Facebook and X, on 15 September to address the spread before the 29 October elections.
The session will also involve the European Commission, national regulators and civil society groups.
The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), which enforces the EU’s Digital Services Act in the Netherlands, is mandated to oversee election integrity under the law. The vote was called early in June after the Dutch government collapsed over migration policy disputes.
Platforms designated as Very Large Online Platforms must uphold transparent policies for moderating content and act decisively against illegal material, ACM director Manon Leijten said.
In July, the ACM contacted the platforms to outline their legal obligations, request details for their Trust and Safety teams and collect responses to a questionnaire on safeguarding public debate.
The September meeting will evaluate how companies plan to tackle disinformation, foreign interference and illegal hate speech during the campaign period.
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